Casket construction



Jan. 1, 1946.

w. H. THOMMEN 2,392,298

GASKET CONSTRUCTION Filed March 24, 1944 3 Sheets-sheet 1 ...nlm fo) UWM vIAWENIOR ATY'QEA/EVS.

' Jan. 1, 1946. vw. H. THOMMEN V GASKET CONSTRUCTION 5 Sheets-Sheet` 2 Filed March 24, 1944 INVENTOR.

Jan. l, 1946. w. H. THQMMEN GASKET CONSTRUCTION Filed Maroh 24, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 I'NVENTOIL Z0.' BY.'

f? TURA/VAS Patented Jan. l, 1946 GASKET CONSTRUCTION ,Application March 24, 1944, 'serial No. k527,876

'Plus-.invention relates in general to improvements inthe art of manufacturing burial caskets org-collins, and relates more specifically to various improvements in the construction of non-metallic caskets formed primarily of ply-wood or similar sheet material. 7

l 4The primary object of the present invention is to provide a simple, durable and attractivecasket which may be expeditiously formed of ply-wood or the-like. I

Burial coins or caskets have heretofore been constructed primarily either of metal or of wood; andf'while the metal structures are perhaps the most durable, they are also the most expensive and diiiicult to handle becauseof their excessive Weight.- The prior Wooden cofns when cheaply |built, were relatively frail and insecure; and when lproperly constructed, these prior wooden caskets were` also relatively heavy and costly, thus making all of the previous coiiins or caskets relatively objectionable for diverse reasons. Aside from the foregoing objections, metal is also .becoming more difficult to procure for use in the manufacture of caskets and the like, whereas certaintypes of woodsuch as durable and strong ply-wood is becoming more readily available.

It is'therefore another object of mypresent invention to provide an improved cofiin formed primarilyv of ply-Wood,l which possesses great strength while lbeing relatively light in weight, and which can cost.

*,Another object of this invention is to provide' afhighlyv attractive and sturdy casket assemblage which mayrbe constructed in a unique manner from bendable sheet stock such as ply-wood, so f that the bottom and side 'walls of the structure are formed of a single-continuous sheet of the material. I

vA further object' of the'present invention is" to provide an improved wooden coiiin structure,

whichutilizes a minimum amount ofmetallic comms .-UNITED" STATES v also be `produced at moderate ffl Fig. l 1 is a transverse vertical section through a typical ply-Wood casket embodying the vpresent invention, and-having the cover closed .Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary section similar to thaty of Fig. 1, but more clearly illustrating the detailed construction of the sides .of the casket; A

Fig. 3 is a part sectional side elevation ofapproximately one-half of a casket such as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, with at end closures orheads applied to the ends thereof, and the section having been taken centrally through the casket;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View of the end head portion of the casket oi Fig. 3; l

Fig. 5 is a similarly enlarged fragmentary horizontalsection through a side and end head of the casket shown in Figs. l to 4 inclusive, the section having been taken along the line 5--5 yof Fig. 2; l

Fig. 6 is a transverse vertical section through another embodiment of the invention comprising a casket having curved end closures or heads applied to the opposite ends thereof, the section having been :taken along the line 6 6 of Fig. 7; and l f Fig. Y'1 isa horizontal section through the curved end head assemblage of Fig. 6, taken along the line I-'I.

-While the improvement khas ybeen sho-wn and described herein as having been applied to only a limited number'of typical designs of ply-wood caskets, it is-to -be understood that caskets embodying the invention may vary considerably in appearance or design, and it is not my desire or 1 intent to unnecessarily limit the scope or utility of the invention by virtue of such specific embodiments. v

Referring especially to Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, the improved ply-Wood casket shown therein comprises; in general an elongated trough-shaped Vbody 9 formed of a single continuous sheet of material, and having a flat bottom I0 and opposite upright side walls I I connected to the bottom I0 by curved sections I2; a series of transverse angular ribs I3 disposed within-land on opposite sides of the body 9 and being firmly connected to the bottom I0 and side Walls Il thereof; a rigid base vIll-formed of rmly united transverse and longiconstructing severaltypes of the improved plytudinal boards I5, I6 respectively, and projecting outwardly beyond the side Walls Iland vthe ends of the body 9; re-enforcing members or mouldings I1 secured to the outer longitudinal boards I 6 of the base I4 and to the sidewalls II and adjacent ribs I3; upper protecting strips I8 khaving longitudinal grooves I9 coacting with. and concealing the upper yedgesof the side .walls I I ofthe body 9; outer re-enforcing plates Zoco,- acting with the side Walls II of the body .9 adjacentto each rib I3 above the moulding I1 and y'spanning theadjacent ribs; elongated Vcarrier handles 2| coacting with the plates 20 on opposite sides of the beds/'7 9 through intervening posiironing blocks ,-22 and foei-ng rigidly connected to the blocks 2'2, pistes (20,' wens '1| 'and rio-S 'r3 by' means of `bolts, 23; nat end heads 24 closing the opposite ends of the trough-shaped body 9 and @boing secured thereto with the aid of corner 25 and bottom strips 26; and a closure cover 21 coacting with the upper strip'ssl of the side n Il and end heads 24.

The trough-shaped body 9 including its bottoni I9, side walls II and curved 'connecting sections I2, is preferably formed of a single continuous Vsheet of ply-woodor the like, which may be bent to shape without heating or steaming andV provides ya rigid aridi 'durable #struct-ure devoid of joints. The angularstilening ribs I3 l are also preferably formed of heaviergandfdurable plywoodand snugly fit and are firmly attached to the l'o'ottom i0 ahdgadj'acentside wa-lls I I of the body 9 by means of the bolts 23 and screws 28, and gluing in addition so desired; and these Aribs 'lf3 serve-to maintain the elongated troughlike Hoody t proper shape` The 'rigid supporting base YIt may also be constructed of durable ply-wo'odboards I5, Iii having interfltting tongues 'and grooves united by gluing or otherwise, vand the ribs I3 `andbody bottom I9 may likewise be or gracefully curved as illustrated in Figs. 6 and '1,v the formerconstruction being preferred in the lessexpensivecoflins, arid the latter-being espe- Referring particularly to Figs. 3 to 5 inclusive, the ilat end heads 24 are preferably constructed- `'of hat lsheets of relatively thin hut durable plyj wood, which span the open ends of the body 9 'end of the corresponding mouldings I'I and rigidly attachedto the bottom I4 by means of .fr

screws 28 as: shownv in Figs. 1 and 2. Thereenforcihgfmouldings'l'l which extend entirelyr `around the body 9 and end heads 24, may be of diverse shapes, and are likewise securelto the outer boards "I6 of the base I4 `and to the lower f portions of the body walls II above the curved sections I2, with theaidof screws -28 or the' like. The upper protecting `and re-enforcing strips IB also lei'cterrd Ventirely about the body 9 and end heads24, and may be'iflrmly secured to the upper' concealed edges of the walls II and Vheads, 24` byV means of glue disposed within the edge confining recesses or grooves I9, An extremely rigid but light body assemblage is thus provided, andthe base I4 mayalso be provided with longitudinal .I

seating strips 29 as shown. Y Y The outer re-'enforcing plates 20 which coact with the outer surfaces of the side walls and span thejadjacent ribs I3V above the mouldings II,m ay also fbe'of varied design in order 'to enhlance the aesthetic appearance, and these plates are provided with handle positioning recesses within which the spacer blocks 22 are rmly seated-,see Figi 2. The blocks' 22 in turn, are provided with transverse recesses within which the elongated `bar `handles 2l are firmly seated, and the handles l'ilextend throughout Vthe major length ofthe casket `andare rigidly attachedv thereto by the bolts l23 whichtlamp the Vhandles V2l, blocks: 22, plates 20, walls II., and ribs I3 together at each c ofthe successive ribs. VA sturdy and rigid handle assemblage is thus provided at each side of strips I8` of the body 9, and the assembled heads 24 maybe slipped int-o; position at thelldf; the trough-shapedV body and the' posteggi-5 vand Strips 26 may then belrmly attached to the side.

walls I l and :bottom I9 oithefbody 9 with the of screws, 28 asshown. Finishing moulding.;` 31)v maythereafter be applied to the corners' Aas shown in Fig. 5 to complete the end closures; andthese closure head assemblages may obviously. be conf' structed and readily applied at minimum 'postte provide la sturdy iin-al coffin- Referring specifically to `Figs. 6 and 1, the more refined curved end head'stru'cture shownthrein, comprises in general a relatively flat erid closure lplate si formed of durableply-wood and having curved opposites-ide portions 32 adapted to ali-ne with the side walls II ofthe body 9; a, bottom plate 33 secured within and enclosing the lower end `'of the head; a pair of, oppositely disposed angular side brackets or ribs 3 4 firmly connecting the free edges of thecurved portions 32 with the bottom plate 33; and upright posts 35vt'o whichtheribs 3d are adapted to besecured by screws 28. end plate 3l with its curved side portions 32--is formed of Va single continuous sheet of plyf-wood and the lower rrrouldings I1 and upper freenforef ing strips i8 extend along these plates and lhave curved enfd portions which are alineable withv the ends of the corresponding mouldings and strips of the side walls Il; and the bottoni plateais disposed kslightly higher 'than 'the base I4 but snugly engages the adjacent transverse end board i5 thereof as well asthe corresponding end edge of the body bottom I0. The bottom plates 33 and the angular bracketY ribs 34 may also; formed of thick ply-wood; andthe ribs 34 .have sharp outer cor-ners as shown in Fig.v 5, whichgseai the ends of the ycurved sections I2 of the; body'. This curved end headconstruction while bei-ng slightly more complicated than that shownl in Figs; 3 to 5 inclusive, presents a neater and more highly. finished appearance in the assembled easket, and also provides an effective closure for the ends of the trough-shaped body 9 which caribe readily attached thereto.

When' assembling the coins or casketsgr the same style of bod-y 9-, base I4 and cover 2l may the c'oflin, Vand theplates' 20 and blocks Y2 2 posi- Y tively rriaintain the elongatedY carrying handles 2l` proper positionand alsor provide ample z' 'spaceV for insertion of 'the `fingers, andv hands of the carriers. Thecover 21 may also beef varied L l VVconstruction-and design, in one orfmore sections .which may be hingedly secured to the Vupper reenforcing stripsy I8 in a well known manner.,;and=

this cover? 21. is preferably formed' of light but 1TB-ie end closures tor heads of. the casket, may

be utilized with either the net ,pr curved end closure or head, and the interior surfaces of the body and end heads are ordinarilyprovidedwith upholstery attaching strips 36 which are gluedl or otherwise fastened to these surfaces. After the body and base vassemblage has been constructed, the end heads may be quicklyand conveniently applied to produce an exceedingly light Vbut strong casket, and the cover 21 may thereafter be applied in any suitable manner. The interior. of the casket assemblage may thenY be decorated and upholstered to presenta` highly finished and attrae'- tive appearancmand to cover up internal ,fasteniing and lre-enforcing elei'nents',` and` ther-external edges of said side walls, a base coacting with said y and durable in construction, besides being of light weight and therefore easy to handle.

From the foregoing detailed description it will be apparent that my present invention provides an improved coin or casket which may be constructed primarily of ply-wood to provide an extremely strong, light, and attractive final structure. The formation of the body of the improved casket from a single elongated sheet of ply-wood having opposite side walls integrally associated with an imperforate bottom so as to provide a trough-shaped body, not only facilitates construction of the caskets, but also produces a strong unit devoid of joints at the lower longitudinal corners. This U-shaped body is most effectively re-enforced by the local ply-wood ribs 34, the bottom I4, and the upper strips I8; and the outer plates besides stiffening the side walls II, also provide eiective anchorage points for the handles 2 I. The blocks 22 positively maintain the handles 2I in proper position, besides providing ample space for the hands of the carriers, and either of the improved end head structures may be applied to the same type of body constructionwith relative ease. While the improved 'flat end head structure, is somewhat simpler and less costly than the rounded end head structure, both of these end heads eiectively seal the opposite ends of the trough-shaped body and both present a neat and highly nished appearance. The invention has gone into successful use and has proven revolutionary so far as casket design and construction is concerned, and it has been found that with the aid of this invention, caskets can be manufactured more readily and expeditiously vof extremely strong and light material, at minimum cost. The caskets may be manufactured in quantity at relatively low cost because of the fact that the body structures of various styles and types of caskets are of like construction, and it is to be noted that the use of excessive metallic hardware has been reduced to a minimum while still maintaining adequate strength in the assemblages.

It should be understood that it is not desired to limit this invention to the exact details of construction, or to the precise mode of assembling the structures, herein shown and described, for various modi-cations within the scope of the appended claims may occur to persons skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. A casket comprising, a bottom formed of a continuous elongated panel of ply-wood having its opposite sides turned upwardly to provide a trough having a bottom and integral side walls, re-enforcing strips associated with the upper edges of said side walls, a base coacting with said bottom and extending outwardly beyond said side Walls, and re-enforcing means connecting the outwardly extending portions of said base with said side walls above said bottom.

2. A casket comprising, a bottom formed of a continuous elongated panel of ply-wood having its opposite sides turned upwardly to provide a trough having a bottom and integral side walls, re-enforcing strips having downwardly open recesses for receiving and concealing the upper bottom and extending outwardly beyond said side walls, and mouldings connecting the\ outwardly extending portions of said base with said side walls beneath said re-enforcing strips.

3. A casket comprising, a bottom formed of a single elongated panel of ply-wood having its opposite sides turned upwardly to provide a unitary upwardly open trough having a flatbottom and integral side walls, a base coacting with said bottom and extending outwardly beyond said side walls, re-enforcing ribs coacting with the trough bottom and with th'e inner surface of each of said side walls and being iirmly secured to said base, several upright re-enforcing plates secured to the outer surface of each of said side walls and to the adjacent ribs and spanning the adjacent re-enforcing ribs, and other re-enforcing means connecting the outwardly extending portions of said base with said side walls beneath said plates.

4. A casket comprising, a bottom and opposite side walls formed of a single panel of ply-wood and providing an elongated trough, a base coacting with said bottom, end walls coacting with said bottom and side walls to close the opposite trough ends and to maintain the side walls in upstanding position, and means for securing said end Walls to said base through said bottom.

5. A casket comprising, a bottom and opposite side walls formed of a single panel of ply-wood and providing an elongated trough, a base coacting with said bottom, end walls coacting with said bottom and side walls and being secured to said base to close the opposite trough ends and to maintain the side walls in upstanding position, and re-enforcing ribs coacting with the bottom and inner surface of each side wall and also being secured to said base.

6. A casket comprising, a bottom and opposite side walls formed of a single panel of ply-Wood and providing an elongated trough, a base coacting with said bottom, end walls coacting with said bottom and side walls and being secured to said base through said bottom to close the opposite trough ends and to maintain the side walls in upstanding position, and a re-enforcing strip secured to and concealing the upper edge of each side wall, said end walls also being secured to said strips.

'7. A casket comprising, an elongated unitary upwardly open trough formed of a single panel having a bottom connected with integral side walls by gradually curved sections, a base of greater width than said trough coacting with said bottom and projecting outwardly beyond said side walls beneath said curved sections, and re-enforcing members connecting the outer edges of said base with the adjacent side walls above said sections.

8. A casket comprising, an elongated unitary upwardly open trough formed of a single panel having a bottom connected with' integral side walls by gradually curved sections, a base of greater Width than said trough coacting with said bottom and projecting outwardly beyond said side walls beneath said curved sections, re-enforcing mouldings connecting the outer edges of said base with the adjacent side walls above said sections, and angular ply-wood ribs coacting with the trough bottom and with the adjacent side walls and being secured to said base through said bot- WILLIAM H. THOMMEN. 

